Heraldic Law of the Imperial Domain and its Nobility - 05.02.1463

Heraldic Law of the Imperial Domain and its Nobilitypublished on 05.02.1463

Quote :

Heraldic Law of the Imperial Domain and its NobilityI. Preamble

1. The Heraldic Law of the Imperial Domain and its Nobility applies to all lands of the Imperial Domain of the Sacrum Romanorum Imperium Nationis Germanicӕ. It replaces all former imperial laws about heraldry and nobility relating to the Imperial Domain.2. The Magna Carta of the Holy Roman Empire and the Concordat with Rome have to be respected at all times.3. The Heraldic Law of the Imperial Domain and its Nobility can only be changed by the Holy Roman Emperor and in accordance with the Magna Carta.

II. Imperial Domain

1. The Imperial Domain consists of all territories within the borders of the Holy Roman Empire with the exception of the provinces named in the Magna Carta and the territories granted to the kingdoms and imperial unions for the use as their (royal) domain.2. The Imperial Domain is divided in fiefs which may only be used with approval of the Holy Roman Emperor, as is regulated in the following parts of this law.3. The Imperial Domain is protected and no territory may be used without the approval of the Holy Roman Emperor.4. The territory of kingdoms, imperial unions and provinces can be extended by the Holy Roman Emperor by granting them fiefs from the Imperial Domain in personal union or to use as (royal) domain.

III. Imperial NobilityA. Imperial Nobles

1. All imperial nobles that were granted a fief of the Imperial Domain are immediate vassals of the Holy Roman Emperor, who is their liege lord. The Imperial Nobility can have their own vassals, as is determined later in this section, in this case they are seen as their liege lord.2. All titles and fiefs of Imperial Nobility are granted by the Holy Roman Emperor at his own discretion.3. Ranks of Imperial Nobility:

Dukes;

Margraves and Marquis;

Landgraves and Princely Counts;

Princes;

Palsgraves;

Counts;

Burgraves and Viscounts;

Barons and Lords;

Imperial Knights.

4. All granted titles (except Imperial Knight) carry the respective fiefs with them. The Imperial College of Heraldry advises the Holy Roman Emperor in allocating correct fiefs based on tradition and history.5. Knights that have been knighted by the Holy Roman Emperor will be known as Imperial Knights.6. All imperial fiefs and its nobles are listed in the Roll of Arms or Imperial Armorial.Vacant imperial fiefs do not have to be listed.

B. Vassals of the Imperial Nobility

1. The Imperial Nobility is allowed to grant the following fiefs and knighthoods freely:

Counts are allowed to grant up to 2 lordships (or baronies) and 3 knighthoods.

Burgraves or viscounts are allowed to grant up to 3 knighthoods.

Lords or barons are not allowed to grant any fiefs or knighthoods.

2. For an Imperial Order, the Emperor may convert the number of fiefs into knighthoods. This will be specified as such in the official patent.3. Vassals of the Imperial Nobility cannot grant any fiefs or knighthoods themselves.4. The Holy Roman Emperor may grant the right to assign more fiefs and knighthoods to specific imperial nobles. This has to be determined and sealed in the patent of nobility or in a contract.

C. Ennoblement

1. Any ennoblement or knightly accolade (for both Imperial Nobles and their vassals) has to take place within a special ceremony to found the new relationship between the liege lord and his vassal. During the ceremony the vassal brings the oath of allegiance and swears to provide the liege lord with Auxillium and Consillium. In return the vassals are granted their title and corresponding fief and the liege lord swears to protect his vassal from any harm and assures justice and sustenance. The Imperial King of Arms or any person that is commissioned by him should be present to bear witness of the act.2. With the ennoblement a vassal receives at least the coat of arms of his new fief with the corresponding rank crown, hat or coronet and a patent of nobility signed or validated by the Imperial King of Arms.

D. Rights and Duties

1. Vassals, except knights, receive a part of the territory held by the liege lord to govern on behalf of their lord. On their grounds they have the right to hold markets, the right to levy customs, to arrange troops and to have vassals according to III.B. Imperial nobles receive a seat in the Nobility Chamber of the Imperial Diet. They receive the noble status corresponding to the title that they are granted and are allowed to wear the blazon in their coat of arms.2. Every vassal is obligated to provide his liege lord with Auxilium whenever he is requested to do so. He should aid his liege lord in cases of wars and feuds. Vassals with a position in the church are not obliged to take up arms. Vassals that are, for any legitimate reason (the liege lord decides about the legitimacy), unable to aid their liege lord in person have to sent another person to replace themselves or have to provide financial compensation for the duration of the period for which Auxilium was requested. Different rules can be specified in the feudal contract.

3. Every vassal is obligated to provide his liege lord with Consilium. He should give counsel in the council rooms of his liege lord (for example the Imperial Diet).4. Fiefs may only be inherited to a legal heir when this is approved by the liege lord or when the right of inheritance is granted in the feudal contract. Legal heirs must be specified in a sealed testament that will be kept in the archives of the Imperial College of Heraldry.5. The liege lord is allowed to grant further rights or demand further duties in a contract between him and the vassal. A contract is only valid when it is signed by both parties. A contract may only be changed on mutual agreement.

E. Stewardship

1. Any imperial fief can have a steward. The steward represents the imperial noble in case of absence towards his vassals and subjects as well as in front of the Holy Roman Emperor. When the holder of the fief is fully absent, the steward may govern the fief, ennoble vassals and may take the seat in the Imperial Diet.2. Imperial nobles may grant the office of a steward to anyone they wish, but the Holy Roman Emperor can always order the vassal to choose a different steward. The Holy Roman Emperor may assign a steward to any imperial fief when it is vacant or when the noble is absent.

F. Worldly church fiefs

1. The worldly church fiefs (prince-archbishoprics, prince-bishoprics, princely abbeys) are defined with a separate decree by the Imperial King of Arms with enactment of this law.2. The Prince-(Arch)bishoprics may be granted to the (Arch)bishop, who is determined by the Holy Roman and Universal Aristotelian Church to govern the corresponding (arch)diocese as Administrator or (Arch)bishop in the case that the territory is not part of a province.The Princely Abbeys will be granted to the Abbots determined in the same way.They will rule the fief on behalf and as vassals of the Holy Roman Emperor as Prince-(Arch)bishops/Prince-Abbots. 3. The princely clergymen are allowed to grant the following fiefs and knighthoods freely:

Prince-Archbishops are allowed to grant up to 3 lordships (or baronies) and 3 knighthoods.

Prince-Bishops are allowed to grant up to 2 lordships (or baronies) and 2 knighthoods.

Prince-Abbots are allowed to grant up to 1 lordships (or baronies) and 1 knighthoods.

Paragraph III.B.4 is valid as well. 4. Stewardship over a worldly church fief may be granted to an imperial noble or province by the Emperor. 5. Stewards of worldly church fiefs have the same worldly rights as the Archbishop or Bishop, as long as that post is vacant. 6. The Holy Roman Emperor, may convert a vacant worldly church fief grant it as a regular worldly imperial fief (for example duchy, principality, county).

G. Imperial Orders of Chivalry.

1. The Holy Roman Emperor may recognize chivalric orders as Imperial Orders of Chivalry. The recognition is granted by a sealed contract between the Holy Roman Emperor and the grandmaster of the respective order.2. Fiefs and further rights may be granted to Imperial Orders of Chivalry by the Holy Roman Emperor. This has to be sealed in a contract.

IV. Imperial College of Heraldry and Heraldic RulesA. Imperial College of Heraldry

1. All matters that involve the Imperial Domain and Imperial Nobility are governed by the Imperial College of Heraldry.2. The Imperial College of Heraldry consists of the Imperial King of Arms, his deputy, the Imperial Heralds and the representatives of all other colleges of heraldry of the Sacrum Romanorum Imperium Nationis Germanicӕ, which only gain entrance to the Imperial College of Heraldry with approval of the Imperial King of Arms.3. The Imperial College of Heraldry is lead by the Imperial King of Arms, who is chosen by the Holy Roman Emperor in accordance with the Magna Carta. He may appoint a deputy to replace him during absences.4. The Imperial Heralds support the Imperial King of Arms in his job and can carry out the daily work of the Imperial Heraldry. They are appointed by the Imperial King of Arms.

B. Heraldic rules

1. The Imperial College of Heraldry is allowed to create extra heraldic rules for the Imperial Domain and its nobility (for example rules for crowns, coat of arms, seals, bullae, jousts, genealogy, etcetera) in an addendum to this law. These rules have to be approved by the Holy Roman Emperor in order to be valid and can be changed at any time by the Imperial College of Heraldry.